Richard Froese
South Peace News
Big Lakes County has denied a request from a High Prairie resident to remove a parcel of land in Grouard from the County’s upcoming auction sale.
At its regular meeting Oct 9, council approved a recommendation to deny a request from Barry Sharkawi to remove the Lesser Slave Lake Settlement River Lot 35A from the auction land sale Oct. 22.
The land was acquired by Big Lakes after the property taxes on the property were not paid the last three years, Pat Olansky, director of community services and planning, told council.
“The request goes against County policy,” Olansky said.
Sharkawi made the request as a delegation to council at its regular council meeting Sept. 25.
Sharkawi wishes to build eight multi-unit residential dwellings on the property to address the shortage of housing in the area, Olansky said.
“He has advised that he would be willing to pay the penalty the County would be charged to remove the listing from the sale,” Olansky told council.
River Lot 35A has been listed for the sale on Oct. 22 by Ritchie Bros. The property contains 2.83 acres and is within the hamlet residential district in the land-use bylaw. It is serviced with municipal water, power and natural gas.
The current assessed value of the land is $13,670, Olansky said.
The manufactured home on the property was recently destroyed by fire and the debris has been removed.
Olansky said the penalty to remove the lot from the sale will depend on what Ritchie Bros. feels it can sell the lot for.
In 2021, the penalties ranged from $5,000 and $54,000 per lot, depending on the property.
Big Lakes County policy outlines the guidelines for the county to sell municipally-owned lands.
Municipal lands may be sold through a public bid process or by other methods not stated in the policy, Olansky said.
“Due to the success of the previous Ritchie Bros real estate auction of municipal lands, council passed a motion at the May 22 meeting to dispose of this lot and two in Enilda through online auction once again,” Olansky said.
She added Sharkawi’s proposal to develop the lot with multi-unit dwellings, a single duplex on the lot, is a permitted use within the hamlet residential district.
A single row house – three or more dwelling units within one row house – is a discretionary use within the district.
A land-use bylaw amendment to allow more than one duplex or row house on a hamlet residential district property may be necessary if no subdivision is being contemplated, Olansky said.
Keeping the lot on the auction list has many benefits.
“It provides an opportunity for the public to purchase the property,” Olansky said.
“The property has received wide exposure through the listing and it is highly likely to sell above market value.”
Should the sale result in proceeds less than market value, the conditions of the Municipal Government Act are met because the sale information contain a statement that in complying with the MGA. “dispersal of municipal land through this auction, with no set reserve price may result in lands being sold for less than market value”.
Leaving the property on the auction listing may also play in Sharkawi’s favour, she added.
“Mr. Sharkawi has the same opportunity as any other member of the public to purchase the lot through the online auction,” Olansky said.
“He may be able to purchase the lot through the auction at a cost less than market value without having to cover the cost of the penalty.”